Record Reviews
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  | BOB BROOKMEYER & KENNY WHEELER ~ ISLAND
ARTISTS HOUSE 0006 (Barcode: 827867000628) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2002 Released: 2003
This is a wonderful and criminally little known album by American trombonist Bob BrookmeyerFind albums by this artist and British (of Canadian origin) trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with American (of Finnish origin) pianist Frank CarlbergFind albums by this artist, bassist Jeremy AllenFind albums by this artist and drummer John HollenbeckFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, four by Wheeler and three by Brookmeyer. The CD comes accompanied by a bonus DVD, which includes high resolution mixes, a documentary about the recording, Artists interviews and other goodies.
This is the first cooperation between Brookmeyer and Wheeler, but the obvious mutual respect and affinity, combined by extensive experience, results in a superb dialogue between the two, which culminates in the duo improvisations but is present throughout the album´s entire duration. The excellent rhythm section is ideally suited to put the two veterans on the foreground but support them superbly with unobtrusive performance, which includes elegant soloing.
The music is all within mainstream Jazz idiom, soaked with the typical Wheeler´s melancholy, which is instantly recognizable in his compositions and Brookmeyer´s cool, which dominates his compositions. All the compositions fit ideally into a coherent whole, which reflects the Jazz aesthetics at its best, as well as the many years of experience these two Masters share.
Although perhaps somewhat less challenging than Wheeler´s European recordings (on ECMFind albums on this label and other European labels), this music is by no means less elegant or artistically fulfilling, displaying simply another facet of his Jazz universe. I can´t imagine any true Wheeler connoisseur who could consider not having this superb album on his collection.
Overall this is an absolute marvel of an album, which should keep every Jazz lover on this planet happy. Sadly this is extremely difficult to find these days, but absolutely worth the effort!
| | Updated: 30/06/2020Posted: 30/06/2020 | CD+DVD 2 Audiophile Recommend To A Friend |
  | GARY BURTON ~ NEW VIBE MAN IN TOWN / WHO IS GARY BURTON? / IN CONCERT
BGO 1519 (Barcode: 5017261215192) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1961 - 1968 Released: 2024
This is a reissue / remaster of three early albums by American vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist, released originally on the RCAFind albums on this label label. Burton started his musical career at a very early age and was considered a prodigy. Choosing the vibraphone as his “weapon of choice”, and his decision to play Jazz rather than classical music made him a sensation and he recorded the first of the albums included here at the age of eighteen, quite an unprecedented event at the time. CD1 presets his first two albums, eight and seven tracks, recorded in 1961 and 1962 respectively. CD2 presents the 10th album, with eight tracks recorded in 1968, which is the only live recording by Burton and the one before last album released on RCA.
“New Vibe Man In TownFind albums with this title” was recorded in a trio setting with bassist Gene ChericoFind albums by this artist and drummer Joe MorelloFind albums by this artist. All the tracks are standards. “Who is Gary Burton?Find albums with this title” was recorded in a septet setting with trumpeter Clark TerryFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bob BrookmeyerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Phil WoodsFind albums by this artist, pianist Tommy FlanaganFind albums by this artist, bassist John NevesFind albums by this artist and drummers Morello or Chris SwansenFind albums by this artist. Four of the tracks are standards, two are by Swansen, who was Burton’s classmate at Berklee Collage of Music and finally one is by British trombonist / composer Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist, who was his Berklee teacher and later a lifelong friend and musical collaborator.
“In ConcertFind albums with this title” was recorded with the revolutionary quartet, which included guitarist Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, bassist Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and drummer Bob MosesFind albums by this artist, and sounded like something from another planet, being one of the earliest Jazz-Rock Fusion ensembles, which changed the face of music. Except for one cover of a song by Bob DylanFind albums by this artist, all the tracks are originals, three composed by Burton, two by Coryell, one co-composed by the two and finally again one track by Gibbs.
Overall, this is a brilliant reminder of the early musical path by one of the most important American Jazz figures, which is perhaps also the most “non-American” Jazz figures, closer to the European sound and aesthetics than to his roots, which are still plainly present on his first two albums. This reissue joins the other three reissue projects of Gary Burton recordings on RCA, released by the great British BGOFind albums on this label label, which now cover ten of the eleven RCA recordings.
| | Updated: 29/07/2024Posted: 29/07/2024 | CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | GARY BURTON ~ SOMETHING`S COMING! / THE GROOVY SOUND OF MUSIC / THE TIME MACHINE
BGO 1241 (Barcode: 5017261212412) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1963 - 1966 Released: 2016
This is a reissue of three early albums by the legendary American Jazz vibraphonist / composer Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist (his third to fifth albums): "Something`s Coming!Find albums with this title" from 1964, "The Groovy Sound Of MusicFind albums with this title" from 1965 and "The Time MachineFind albums with this title" from 1966.
"Something`s Coming!" was recorded in a quartet setting with guitarist Jim HallFind albums by this artist, bassist Chuck IsraelsFind albums by this artist and drummer Larry BunkerFind albums by this artist. It presents seven pieces, two of which are original compositions by British composer Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist, one is by Hall and the remaining four are standards.
"The Groovy Sound Of Music", as the title suggests, includes Burton interpretations of eight songs from the musical "The Sound Of Music", recorded in a sextet setting with trombonist Bob BrookmeyerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Phil WoodsFind albums by this artist, guitarist Joe PumaFind albums by this artist, bassist Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and alternating drummers Joe HuntFind albums by this artist and Ed ShaughnessyFind albums by this artist.
"The Time Machine" was recorded in a trio setting with bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Larry Bunker. It presents ten pieces, four of which are original compositions by Burton, two by Gibbs, one by Swallow and the remaining three are standards.
These wonderful albums tell the story of the early days of Burton´s musical development and already point out towards several characteristics of his music in the later years, like his close friendship and cooperation with composer Michael Gibbs, his close association with bassist Steve Swallow, who would continue to record with Burton for many years, his appreciation and understanding of the role of the guitar in Jazz, which will soon after lead to his revolutionary cooperation with Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist and the birth of the American Jazz-Rock Fusion, etc.
Whereas the first two albums find Burton still engulfed in Bebop and Cool Jazz, the third album is distinctly different and shows his individual voice and stylistic differentiation from mainstream Jazz, which shifts into more sophisticated approach both as a player and a composer, which would eventually bring Burton to be much closer to European Jazz than almost any other of his compatriots.
Although these albums were recorded fifty years ago, they all sound absolutely fresh today and the music lost absolutely nothing of its wonderful vitality, musicality and exquisite taste. For Burton and vibraphone fans this is an absolute essential piece of Jazz history, but all music connoisseurs should find it absolutely delightful. Not to be missed!
| | Updated: 17/10/2016Posted: 17/10/2016 | CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN DANKWORTH ~ THE ZODIAC VARIATIONS / THE $1,000,000 COLLECTION
VOCALION 8480 (Barcode: 765387848026) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1964 - 1967 Released: 2011
Legendary British saxophonist / composer / arranger / bandleader John DankworthFind albums by this artist was one of the Godfathers of modern British Jazz. Although his career started in mid-1940s he was keen to pursue the sounds of Bee Bop, when those crossed the Atlantic and later pioneered the modern British Big Band sound. This album brings together two of thematic / "concept" Jazz suites written by Dankworth and performed by his Big Band / Orchestra, both being masterpieces of the genre. "The Zodiac VariationsFind albums with this title", recorded both in US and UK, feature some top American Jazz players as soloists: trumpeter Clark TerryFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bob BrookmeyerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Phil WoodsFind albums by this artist and others. "The $1,000,000 CollectionFind albums with this title" (about famous paintings), recorded three years later, when the British Jazz scene was rapidly developing into a dew dimension, features many of the brilliant young players arriving on the scene, like trumpeters Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist and Derek WatkinsFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Tony RobertsFind albums by this artist and Tony CoeFind albums by this artist, trombonists Chris PyneFind albums by this artist and Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist and many others. Musically this is brilliant stuff, from start to finish of course. British Jazz fans will find this stuff delightful, and Big Band enthusiasts will have a field day with this. I don´t think there is anything else I need to add here, just grab it, if this is your cup of tea!
| | Updated: 31/05/2017Posted: | CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | HUMAN FACTORY ~ THE HUMAN FACTORY
JAZZ972 001 (Barcode: 7293372462795) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006
Human FactoryFind albums by this artist is an Israeli jazz quintet led by one of the veterans of the local scene – Amikam KimelmanFind albums by this artist. Kimelman has a long and distinguished record behind him. He belongs to the first generation of Israeli-born jazz musicians and began to practice his Art when jazz was a true underground scene. He was one of the founders and principal teachers of the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, the fist such institution to undertake the jazz education of the Israeli youngsters. In time Rimon’s graduates became the foundation of the local music scene and many of them achieved international fame and success.
Kimelman recorded several albums and led numerous ensembles, The Human Factory being the latest one. The release of the group’s album also marks the birth of a new record label, called Jazz972Find albums on this label, dedicated to the documentation of the flourishing local jazz scene (same as JazzisFind albums on this label Records 20 years earlier). The Human Factory is quite an unusual quintet, as the instruments include sax, trombone, guitar, bass and drums (reminiscent of some of the splendid Bob BrookmeyerFind albums by this artist’s groups). The guitarist is Aharoni BenariFind albums by this artist – past member of Israel’s excellent Jazz-Rock-Funk-Latin group AtrafFind albums by this artist – here playing mainstream jazz for the first time. The other musicians are: Idan WalishFind albums by this artist – trombone, Dima GrotskyFind albums by this artist – bass and Shai ZelmanFind albums by this artist – drums, all very talented and experienced players.
Kimelman composed five of the seven compositions included on the album, Benari brings one of his own and the last tune is based on an Israeli folk melody. The album is a splendid example of how the Israeli jazz scene grew up in the last couple of decades from infancy to maturity. It can easily stand up to any jazz album recorded anywhere else in Europe or US. Recommended to all fans of Israeli jazz and modern jazz lovers all over the world.
| | Updated: 06/03/2025Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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